That is what LisaMarie has, sheer guts and determination. She is amazing and we are so tickled to be her parents. Last school year LisaMarie said she wanted to do Cross Country. As her Mom, I thought it a wee bit strange to say the very least. Of all of our children, LisaMarie is the most like me. Lets just get it right on out here and say it, weight is a struggle. Still we said okay and she went for it. Last year was good. She hung in there and she ran. She was proud. So were we!!
This school year rolled around and boy howdy she asked again to do Cross Country. We said yes. She has grown, her body is changing and she enjoys running. How fun is that? She paces herself, knowing that what she wants to do is beat her time and only her time. She is not out to set any school records, it is a competition against herself.
She runs, her coaches run with her during all of her practices. She starts out at the end of the pack, but she runs. She does not stop. She does not complain, she runs.
This school year rolled around and boy howdy she asked again to do Cross Country. We said yes. She has grown, her body is changing and she enjoys running. How fun is that? She paces herself, knowing that what she wants to do is beat her time and only her time. She is not out to set any school records, it is a competition against herself.
She runs, her coaches run with her during all of her practices. She starts out at the end of the pack, but she runs. She does not stop. She does not complain, she runs.
LisaMarie at the start of her final race.
Her team mates cheer her on, their families cheer her on, high school kids meet her at different parts of the course to cheer her on, her teachers come out to cheer her on. She is loved by her team and she runs. The course is two miles long, and she runs. It is different courses at different schools. flat, uphill, nearly climbing a hill, and she runs. Her coach ran with her last week for over three and a half miles. She did not tell LisaMarie how far they were going and guess what, she ran.
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| LisaMarie at the end of another race with a huge climb and she will sprint to the end...to cheers of many. |
At the end of the season pizza party one of her coaches was talking with Merrill and he said, you know, she never gives up. She inspires the team to be all they can be. They love her and it is a a joy to be one of her coaches.
It is a joy to be her Mom and her Dad. She has hit those teenage years and sometimes we struggle. Still, I find her amazing and as I struggle I hope to take a lesson from her. To never give up. To meet the course head on with sheer guts and determination. Maybe just maybe one day, I will run.
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Sheila